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Redigobius dewaali (Weber, 1897) Checked goby |
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photo by
SFSA |
| Family: | Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobionellinae | |||
| Max. size: | 5.6 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish | |||
| Distribution: | Africa: endemic to the southwestern Indian Ocean along african coast from southern Mozambique to the Agulhas Province (Ref. 92840), from east coast rivers and estuaries from the Limpopo to southern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa (Ref. 2798, 52193); with isolated records from around Knysna and Kariega estuary, Eastern Cape (Ref. 52193). Threatened by deterioration of riverine and estuarine habitats (Ref. 7248). | |||
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-8; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 5-7. Diagnosis: Distinguished by the following characteristics: brownish head and body; 5-7 dark vertical to oblique bars along side; curved oblique dark stripes on pale head; reddish unpaired fins; compressed head and body; second dorsal rays I,6-8; anal rays I,5-7; pectoral rays 16-19; longitudinal scales 23-26; TRB 8-11; predorsal scales 8-11; circumpeduncular scales 13; second to fourth spine of first dorsal fin longest; first dorsal fin rounded without elongate spines (Ref. 84480). Description: Body moderately deep, tail rounded (Ref. 52193). Head compressed; eyes large; mouth large, reaching below eye in females or beyond eye in males (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 7 spines and 7-8 soft rays; anal fin with 1 spine and 5-7 soft rays (Ref. 52193). Scales in lateral series 23-29 (Ref. 52193, 84480). Colouration: Translucent olive brown with dark brown or black bars and spots, including a double spot at base of the caudal fin; first dorsal fin with a large blue, black on preservation, spot near hind edge (Ref. 52193). |
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| Biology: | Found in clear, vegetated littoral habitats in floodplain pans, lakes and estuaries (Ref. 7248, 52193). It feeds on small crustaceans and insect larvae (Ref. 7248, 52193). Spawns in summer (Ref. 7248, 52193). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 July 2016 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||